Crime changes water rules

KRQE TV

Updated: Feb 6, 2012 7:05 AM

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) — A man accused of breaking into foreclosed homes and then renting them as his own is causing a ripple affect the could affect many people.

Because of what happened with the homes involved in that case, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority is changing the rules.

At the beginning of December Forencio Pacheco found Shaun Anaya renting out his neighbor's foreclosed home.

"I said why are you fixing the heater? And he said for the new renters that are moving in. There shouldn't be anyone moving in. This is my friend's house," Pacheco explained as he recalled his confrontation with Anaya.

Police believe Anaya, who owns Olive Tree Property Management, breaks into foreclosed homes and charges people to live in them. They also believe Anaya has more than 20 victims.

The case caught the attention of the Water Utility Authority, and the company is now changing the way it does business to make sure they do their part to help catch future scammers.

Under the new rules, everyone wanting to pay of a water lien or start service at a property, must provide positive identification, proof of employment if they're working for a real estate company and the deed to the property which is double checked with the county's records.

It's a lot more paperwork which has translated into longer lines for customers, but the company says it must do what can to prevent what's quickly becoming a nationwide crime.

"It's just another way the Water Authority is trying to help out, cooperating with other government agencies to make sure that this sort of thing doesn't keep on happening," said Spokesman David Morris.

Morris said the rules hadn't been in place before because the company has never had any similar problems. He said it's very unlikely someone will come into their office to pay a bill that is not legally theirs.

The case against Shawn Anaya is still in progress.

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